How to Write a Killer Freelance Bid Cover Letter

There are hundreds of ways a freelance professional can ruin a bid cover letter. Outsourcing buyers on sites like oDesk often have to weed through a list of 30, 50 or 100 freelance candidates, and every little detail that's off irritates the person who reads your cover letter. It's the freelance professional's first -- and perhaps only -- chance to impress a potential outsourcing buyer. One mistake and they're immediately crossed off the list (freelance professionals who understand this harsh reality can use it in their favor).

So, how does a freelance professional write a more refined and effective bid cover letter? These tips will help to make your cover letter stand out from the freelance crowd:

* Keep it short.If your cover letter is as long as this essay, cut it by at least a third. All the outsourcing buyer wants to see is a polite greeting, a sentence or two summarizing your freelance profile's relevant highlights, perhaps another sentence or two about things that don't show up on your freelance profile (you recently completed two projects similar to the job at hand, for instance), and a polite closing.
* Beware of typos Use word processing software, and heed the spelling & grammar checks suggested by the program. Also, try reading your cover letter aloud, or ask a friend to review it before you send it in -- even native speakers will benefit from the feedback.
* Follow the outsourcing buyer's directions.If you're asked to answer specific questions regarding your freelance experience or include a key word in your reply -- do it!
* Never use a canned cover letter. Outsourcing buyers can tell. The right words will prove you read the entire freelance job post, including the requested skills, links, and freelance work history.
* Watch your tone. Even if the outsourcing buyer writes in a casual voice, you as the freelance professional should sound serious, yet relaxed in your bid cover letter. Remember that this is a letter from one professional to another. You shouldn't try to be funny or overly flattering. Even more important, you should never be arrogant about your abilities, or seem needy in your wording. A good bid cover letter is helpful, confident and to the point.
* Go easy on the jargon. Use technical terms correctly and cut the marketing-speak. The outsourcing buyer won't be impressed by your plans to "actualize" your "proven potential" to "deliver maximal results" to "drive customer satisfaction." Contrary to some job-hunting guides, you cannot hypnotize the buyer with "energizing" buzz words.
* Link to examples. List and link to or attach freelance work samples to demonstrate your aptitude for the outsourcing project. If your freelance portfolio doesn't already include the relevant items, don't forget to add them afterward!
You've worked hard to polish your freelance profile. But the outsourcing buyer will never bother to look at it unless your bid cover letter serves as a concise, effective teaser. If Hollywood can boil a two-hour movie down to a 90-second preview, you can get your cover letter under 300 words and manage to leave your audience wanting more.